Fort Smith jumps the last under Jamie Codd© Photo Healy Racing
Fort Smith made it back to back wins over fences as he took the J For Jaguar Handicap Chase under Jamie Codd (standing in for Bryan Cooper who was earlier stood down) for Gordon Elliott.
The six-year-old son of Presenting won a bumper at Ballinrobe last year but proved very frustrating over hurdles.
He got off the mark on his third try over fences over the course recently and carrying top-weight this afternoon he was sent off a 10/1 chance.
Settled in mid-division he went second after the fourth last and lead after he next.
He travelled best approaching the final two fences and he was ridden out on the run-in, going on to score by five lengths. Finea (9/1 to 7's) kept on well to take second under Luke Dempsey for Keith Watson while King Leon was a neck back in third under Mark Walsh for Aidan O'Brien at 4/1 (from 5's). As De Pique was sent off the well-backed 6/4 favourite and he unseated early in the race.
Elliott, who was completing a double on the card, said afterwards: "Jamie gave him a good ride. He was out walking the track so we had to go looking for him! He won a bumper on Fort Smith so I was keen for him to ride him."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
